Inkwell for desks



l l 4. Wwf/l,

June 13, 1939. J, H. oxLl-:Y

INKWELL FOR DESKS Filed Deo. 14, 1957 Patented June 13, 1939 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

VThis invention relates to ink-wells which are primarily Aintended foruse in school desks, in which the ink-Well is located in an apertureformed in the desk top, but may be employed in 5, any desk, o-r table inwhich an aperture or recess is provided to receive the ink-well.

Prior to my invention, the type of ink-Well, whichhas been mostgenerally Vused in recent years, has consisted of a glass receptaclehaving a ange at its upper end, which when installed, rests on anannular ledge extending about the aperture in the desk top in which thereceptacle is located, the latter being provided with a closure which isattached thereto by screw threads and which is removed to fill or rellthe receptacle.

In use considerable diiculty has been encountered from the fact thatscholars frequently remove the ink-wells from the desks, spill the inkwhich they contain, and use them for missiles, so that much damage hasfrequently resulted.

Another diiiculty has resulted from the fact that, as the ink-welldepends into the desk it is liable to be upset by books, or otherarticles which are crowded into the desk, and which results in damage toits contents.

Also, ink-Wells of this character have not usually been provided with aclosure for the pen opening, or, if provided with a closure, they have30. usually been of the pivoted type which are adapted to be pushedaside, to permit access to the ink, and in most instances the userneglects to return it to closed position.

In consequence there is much loss of ink by evaporation and, when theink dries in the well, it is often necessary to remove and wash it.Evaporation not only results in the loss of ink, but requires frequentattention on the part of the janitor, or other employee, to keep theinkvvell lled.

The objects of my invention are to provide a form of ink-well which maybe readily attached to any form of desk or table in such a manner thatit cannot be removed by the application of ordinary pressure frombeneath and from which the cover cannot be readily removed without theaid of a special tool or key for the purpose. Also to provide a form ofclosure for the pen opening in the cover, which may be readily pushedaside ink.

with the pen when it is inserted in the opening.

I accomplish these objects by providing an outer casing, which isadapted to be permanently secured within the desk aperture, within whichan ink receptacle is located, and toV which a `cover is attached in amanner to prevent ready re- 5 moval unless a special tool or key isemployed, said cover having its top side inclined downwardly to its penopening thereby providing a raised rim portion which prevents voverflowfrom accidental overlling, and having a closure Afor the pen openingtherein which consists of a metal ball, which is adapted to be readilypushed aside by the pen whenV inserted in the opening, but whichimmediately returns to closed position by gravity when the pen isWithdrawn, said ball being attached to the cover by means of an armwhich extends through the cover and has a knob on its inner end whichprevents removal there? from, said attaching means in no way interferingwith the action in permitting the ball to be pushed aside by the penwhen it is inserted and in auto# matic return thereof to closed positionwhen the pen is withdrawn.

For a more complete disclosure of my invention, reference is now made tothe following specification in connection with the accompanyingdrawing,in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view and Fig. 2 a side elevation vof an ink-wellembodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view at line 3 3 of Fig.` l.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view at line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional viewvof the different parts.

Fig. 6 is a combined elevation and sectional view illustrating theaction of the pen opening closure.

Fig. '7 is asectional view illustrating the method of removing thecover. A

Fig. 8 is a detail view of a key which is em'- ployed.

In the drawing a indicates a desk top having an aperture b extendingtherethrough, an inwardly projecting shoulder c being shown at the lowerend of the aperture, although this is not essential, as the aperture maybe of uniform diameter.

According to invention a cup shaped metal casing is provided having asemi-spherical bottom portion l0, a cylindrical top portion Il, and anintermediate circular transverselyv concave projecting rib I2, theexternal diameter of said rib being equal tol the diameter of theaperture b, so that the casing fits snugly therein at this point.

To secure the casing in the desk aperture, lips I3 are struck out fromsaid rib portion at several 55 points by means of a punch, or similartool, so that, after the casing has been placed in position, it cannotbe removed by force applied in either direction without breaking thewood. The in-Y ternally concave formation of the rib portion permits theformation of the lips I3 to be readily performed, as the concaveformation of the inner jY surface directs the tool to therpoints atwhich the lips should be formed. V.A Vsimilarly shaped ink receptacle`Ill is also provided, which Vis formed to t snugly in the casing andhas an outturned flange I5 at its rim, which, when the receptacle is inposition, rests on the rim of the casing.-V

Arcover I6 is provided, the top portion of which is concave or isinclined downward frinlit'sfrimf to a central pen opening I1, saidopeningbeing circular and having a downturned lip extending about it. Acylindrical ah'gealfdepends from the rim of said cover which is adaptedrtoiit` closely to the cylindrical upper portion of the casing; betweenthe ,latter-and; thefsides of the deskr aperture. Inwardly @projectinglugs I 9 are indented Vin the flange `I8 and correspondingly arrangedoutwardly projecting lugs 20 arefindented in the cylindrical portion ofthe casing, said ylugs being helically formed, "so that, when the coveris 'placed in position on the casing and turned clockwise, Vit will bescrewedonto the cas# ingvand securely attached'thereto. To permitreadyiremovalY andv replacementof 'the cover, itis provided withtwo'indentationsl 2I in its top Yportion which are diametricallyequidist-antirom the center of the covervand a'key` 25 is provided;having'tjwo arms 26, iwhichv are adapted tube,Y inserted in' theindentations 2 I ,"andf a middlearnr 21,y having arightiangularlyextendingkprojection: V28, vwhich isz adapted tobeinsertedv'in`.;the"pe'n the indentationszl; and menthe coveris turned.

slightly until the lugs I9 and 20 are disengaged.;Y

opening I1. Whenthe 'cover' is to be removed the` arm Y2'I is l'placedin the Yopening lII fin-suchga' position that its projection 28 engagesthe innerV side. ofthe cover and the"arms=26. are 'placedfin The Vvcoveris then lifted from'the casing bythe keyfas the arm'Z'I 'anditsprojecton28 acts as a. hook to attach the cover thereto. 'The cover'vmay bereadily replaced by means of the key'lcy-are-4 verse operation, as'willbe'obviousf' l f The closure of the pen'openingnonsistsffgof a* solidnon-corrodible-inetaliball `22having a rigid,

curved arm 23 fsefu'rely` xed therein, randglsaid arm is 'extendedA'through.--anf'aperture inv-,the

cover,in which it may move freely, vand saidarm-g has al knob`24 `formedon thezendthereof whicli'ls i adapted to engagethe underside of Ithecoverfso; that the arm cannot be withdrawn from the holef;

thereby securely attachingltlie ball t'ojtlie" cover and yet permittingfree movement "of lth'e ballin almostY anyY direction, 'tol permita"pentobwev lin*-U serted in the pen opening.

Asthus arranged,vwhen7al-pen ist'o be dipped in the ink contained in the'r'ec'eptaclei'the'jpen is merelyv presSedbetWeen-th bellies@ t @Oven sothatthe ball is4 easily pushed 'Yaside assh'own v in Fig. 6,Vpermittingu the `pen, toibe inserted vin other f'pointfand'WiILimmediatelyffall--baclrV into closed.v position whenthe penis`withdrawn,-iso"i Withdrawn, i

that the pen aperture will always be tightly closed except when the penis inserted therein. Y

The cover is so arranged that, when it is screwed onto the casing, itwill be clamped against the flange I5 at the rim of the ink receptacle,so that the latter will be tightly closed at practically all times, andevaporation of ink will be effectively prevented.y As the rim portion ofthe cover I6 is at a higher level than middle portion, Whenthereceptacle is .being filled by pouring'y inkl through the 'pen aperture,if too much ink is poured in, the ink will overow into raised ,rim-ofthe cover. Also as the top surface ,ofthe coveris concaved, so that itis inclined downward at 'all sides to the pen opening, the

f inclined surface aidsgin directing the ballato its seat in .theopening. Also, the ballV will not in-V terfereY with the insertion ofthe key 25, as before described,V as the; key will be inserted in; avpositionin whichV its projection `28 Will extend in theY oppositedirectionifrom the.arm.23,of the ball, vas Y shown in Fig. 7.

The casing-cover and-ink receptacle are all formed fromnon-.corrodibleusheet metal, and may befformed by means ofdies. v

' In combination with an ink-well coverhav-` ingl a circular ,penopening, and-anapertureiat one side Jof said opening, a gravity actuated-closure havingl asphericaljface adaptedto 'be seated ingsaid opening,'anarm .fixed ein said closure and extending through-saidapertureandfreely mov,

ableI therein, to permitfdisplacementof sai'dclo-v sure'and returnthereof to seated position, and

ture.. f i, ,y Y 2. In combination with an Yink-well cover havingiacircular penopen-ing, and ani-aperture at Y onesideof said opening, Vaclosure for saidopening consisting of a spherical-balljof greaterdiameter .than said opening vand adapted toj bef seatedtherein-bygrav-ity. to closegthe same, an

arm connected to said balland extending through f said aperture fand".freely movable therein, and

. means -on said.y arm arrangedtouengage ,the in.

ner side` of thefcover vto lprevent vs/lithdrawal.of..AV Y

said varmY from 7 said aperture, said; construction to its seat bygravity. Y l

3. 'In combination-with an ink-well cover hav-V ing Ya circular -penopening/in `'the middle :portion thereof and an aperture at one side ofsaidvopenf'A ing,'aY gravity actuatedclosure having a spheri-g cal faceadapted to'be seated -in said opening to close the same, a curved armviixed at one' en'dlinv said closure and extending through saidgaperYture and .freely movabletherein-and means-on the inner end of saidarm-,1arrangedto engage'v the `inner side of said cover t0; prevent-withdrawaloi said arm'from theeaperture..'Y`

effin ,combination with ani-nk-well `cover hav-V ing Aa circular'zpenopening in fits middle portion f and angaperture at oneside of saidopening,V and havingfits top surfaceinclined.downwardlyfrom Ysure'having'a spherical .face adapted to *be seated in said opening toclose thej.;sarne,'Y an arm fixed I :V Y permitting saidybalL-to bepushednasidebythe Y' penvwhen inserted Yinsaid opening and torreturnYarranged to engage the inner side of said cover to prevent withdrawal ofsaid arm.

5. In combination with an ink-Well cover' having a circular pen openingin its middle portion and an aperture at one side of said opening, thetop surface of said cover being inclined downwardly from its rim to saidopening, a spherical metal ball greater in diameter than said openingand adapted to seat therein by gravity, a rigid arm xed in said ball andextended freely through said aperture to permit ready displacement ofsaid ball and means on the inner end of said arm adapted to engage theinner side of the cover to prevent Withdrawal of said arm.

6. An ink-well comprising a cup shaped casing having a cylindrical rimportion and adapted to be secured in a desk aperture, a cup shaped inkreceptacle adapted to be seated Within said casing, a cover having a penopening in its middle portion, a liquid retaining edge portion raisedabove and enclosing said middle portion and a cylindrical flangedepending from said edge portion and adapted to be fitted to said rimportion, and inter-engaging means on said ange and rim portion forattaching the cover to the casing.

7. An ink-Well comprising a cup shaped sheet metal casing having acylindrical rim portion and an annular transversely concave ribprojecting from the middle portion thereof, said rib being adapted to betted to a. desk aperture and to be outwardly indented to secure thecasing in the aperture, an ink receptacle adapted to be seated in saidcasing, and a cover having a pen opening and a depending flange at itsedge adapted to be externally tted to said rim portion within theaperture, said ange and rim portion having inter-engaging projectionsfor securing the cover t the casing.

8. An ink well comprising a sheet metal casing adapted to be secured ina desk aperture and having a cylindrical rim portion, an ink receptacleadapted to be seated Within the casing, a cover having a central pinopening and diametrically disposed recesses at each side of said openingand having a depending cylindrical flange at its edge adapted to befitted to the rim portion of said casing, said flange and rim portionhaving oppositely extending projections adapted to be engaged anddisengaged by turning the cover withv relation to the casing, and a keyhaving arms adapted to be inserted in said recesses and having anintermediate arm adapted to be inserted in the pen opening, saidintermediate arm having a projection at its end adapted to be engagedwith the inner side of the cover.

9. In combination'vvith an ink-Well cover having a circular pen opening,a gravity actuated closure having a spherically shaped face adapted tobe seated in said opening, an arm connected to said closure andextending therefrom, said arm having a freely movable connection withsaid cover permitting ready displacement of said closure, and automaticreturn thereof t0 seated position.

10. In combination with an ink-Well cover having a circular pen opening,a gravity yactuated closure having a spherically shaped face adapted tobe seated in said opening, an arm fixed in said closure and extendingtherefrom, said arm having a freely movable connection with said coverpermitting ready displacement of said closure and automatic returnthereof toseated position and means on said arm to prevent disconnectionof the closure and cover.

, 11. In combination With an ink-Well cover having a circular penopening in its middle portion and having its top surface inclineddownwardly to said opening, a gravity actuated closure having aspherically shaped face adapted to be seated in said opening to closethe same, an arm connected to said closure, having a freely movableconnection with said cover, permitting ready displacement of the closurefrom its seat by the pen when inserted in said opening and returnthereof to seating position by gravity when the pen is withdrawn.

JOHN H. OXLEY.

